The 10 most complained about ads of 2018 so far
Ad Standards has revealed Sportsbet, iSelect and Ultra Tune as having the most complained about ads of the year so far.
Receiving the most complaints of the year to date was betting company Sportsbet with its “manscaping” ad which received 793 complaints for the ad which featured a man shown from the waist up “manscaping” in the bathroom with his leg on a chair shaving his genitals.
The ad was banned by the ad watchdog for not treating the issue of nudity or sex with sensitivity.
Insurance company iSelect had the second most complained about ad for its commercial which depicted a woman smashing an Easter Bunny shaped pinata.
The ad, which managed 715 complaints, was also banned by Ad Standards or showing “extreme anger” and “violence”.
Both the Sportsbet and iSelect ads are the two most complained ads in the history of Ad Standards.
Ultra Tune came in third with its commercial featuring convicted rapist and former boxer Mike Tyson coming to the rescue of three women who run off the road after swerving to avoid Tyson’s pet tiger.
Despite the ad being cleared by the ad watchdog it managed 134 complaints.
Fresh food delivery company Youfoodz had the fourth most complained about ad of the year so far for its ad starring young couples who ‘can’t stop doing it’. The ad saw 49 complaints but was dismissed.
The top 10 most complained about ads of the year so far:
- 0116/18 – Sportsbet – TV – Free-to-air
A man is seen naked from the waist up and appears to be manscaping.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 793
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination or vilification, 2.2 – Exploitative or degrading, 2.3 – Violence and 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity. - 0113/18 – iSelect – TV – Free-to-air
A woman aggressively hits a piñata in front of a group of children.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 715
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination or vilification, 2.3 – Violence and 2.6 – Health and safety. - 0026/18 – Ultra Tune – TV – Free-to-air
Three women driving to a costume party crash a car avoiding a tiger on the road, Mike Tyson appears to help.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 134
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination or vilification, 2.2 – Exploitative or degrading, 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity and 2.6 – Health and safety. - 0047/18 – Youfoodz – TV – Free-to-air
A couple discusses the times and place they ‘do it’ it is then revealed they are talking about eating Youfoodz meals.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 49
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity and 2.5 – Language. - 0030/18 – Yum Restaurants International – TV – Free-to-air
A couple is shown a drawing their child completed of ‘Mum and Dad naked wrestling’, the parents then suggest going to KFC.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 46
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity. - 0065/18 – Universal Pictures – TV – Free-to-air
A trailer for the film ’50 Shades Freed’.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 39
Issues of concern: 2.2 – Exploitative or degrading, 2.3 – Violence, and 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity. - 0037/18 – ARN – TV – Free-to-air
A woman bends over in front of a man who is trying to remove bird droppings from her hair in an elevator, another person refuses to enter the elevator due to the awkward scene.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 36
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity. - 0159/18 – NEDS – TV – Free-to-air
A woman checks on the progress of a construction site and all the workers are using their mobile phones at morning tea break.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 22
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination and vilification, Wagering Code. - 0137/18 – Sportsbet – TV – Pay
A man is seen naked from the waist up and appears to be manscaping.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 21
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity. - 0114/18 – iSelect – TV – Pay
A woman aggressively hits a piñata in front of a group of children.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 19
Issues of concern: 2.3 – Violence, and 2.6 – Health and safety.
Abigail Dawson was Mumbrella's senior content journalist covering event content. She left Mumbrella to move into an agency role in 2020.
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